Pope names administrator for Adelaide after archbishop’s conviction

The Pope has appointed a temporary replacement for Philip Wilson, an Australian Archbishop convicted of covering up child sexual abuse.

Gregory O’Kelly, Bishop of Port Pirie, will become the apostolic administrator of Adelaide following Wilson’s conviction. He will still retain his role of Bishop of Port Pirie and will take on this new position until the Pope makes any further decisions.

Wilson was found guilty of failing to report abuse by fellow priest James Fletcher in the 1970s. Wilson is the most senior official in the Catholic church convicted of concealing child sex abuse and faces a two-year jail sentence.

Following the court’s decision, Wilson stepped aside but did not resign.